The female paramedic slid plastic gloves over her hands and stooped to Jennifer’s level.
“Ms. I need you to tell me exactly where you’re having pain.”
“My vagina...it hurts. It hurts so...bad,” and Jennifer opened her eyes for a brief second before they closed again.
“No other part of your body hurts or is injured?”
Jennifer could barely move her head to answer no, but did.
“I want to go to the hospital with her. Where are you taking her?” Vivian asked and glanced from one paramedic to the other.
“Forest Park General,” the male paramedic answered and they positioned Jennifer to lift her onto the stretcher. “It would be better if you trailed us. Right now we need your assistance.”
“Sure, sure anything,” Vivian said.
“If you could open the front door for us to exit,” he said.
“No problem, Jennifer, I’ll call Charles and let him know where they’re taking you,” and Vivian headed for the front door.
Jennifer couldn’t answer as she lay helpless and in pain.
“On the count of three,” the male paramedic said. “One, two, three,” and they moved Jennifer onto the stretcher. They then rolled the stretcher out of the bedroom to the living room.
Vivian saw the EMT rolling the stretcher toward her and stepped outside to hold the security door open for them. She then went back inside for Jennifer’s bag she took with her to treatments, which had all her medications and other information inside.
“Where’s her cell phone,” she uttered and glanced around the bedroom for it. She spotted it on the dresser and retrieved it and as quickly as she turned to leave contacted Charles.
Meanwhile, Vernon was across the street hiding between two houses taking in the scene. He had on a short winter brown bomber jacket but still looked cold. His baggy jeans were wrinkled suggesting he may have slept outside.
Vernon’s intention was to ring his sister’s doorbell and explain to her his role in the invasion of her house Halloween night. If he had to get down on his knees and beg for forgiveness it’s what he had planned to do, then turn himself back in to the police. He didn’t want his sister thinking he was some kind of monster setting her up to be raped and robbed. He wanted her to know that the rape was not part of his plan; that he was only going take a few things of value from her. And after learning about the rape he plan to take care of the man that violated her.
But Vernon’s intention was spoiled when he walked up and saw a black SUV parked in Vivian’s driveway. He told himself he would just have to hideout until he could catch his sister home alone. He was about to walk away when he heard the ambulance coming down the street. Now seeing his sister exiting her house again with a man he uttered, “That must be her man. He looks like the same cat that was there a while back. Why I do that dumb shit,” he said referring to robbing his sister house and he headed down the street.
***
A couple hours later the ER doctor was heading toward the waiting area. Charles saw him and rapidly rose from his seat. If the doctor wasn’t coming to speak with him, he was still going to inquire about how his wife was doing.
“Mr. Washington, Dr. Jones,” the doctor said while exchanging a handshake with Charles.
“You’re the doctor that saw my wife a few weeks ago when she came in with the flu, correct?”
“Correct,” Dr. Jones replied and with a couple nods of the head.
Vivian, sitting next to Toni, rose from her seat to listen to what the doctor had to say.
“If you don’t mind I’d like to talk to you in private,” the doctor suggested.
Charles looked at Vivian who nodded her understanding.
Dr. Jones then led the way to a consulting room that had three small tables inside. “Please, help yourself to coffee,” he said.
“I’m fine, thanks,” Charles responded as if eating or drinking something would be a distraction to whatever the doctor was going to tell him. He took a seat in one of the chairs at a table and rested his arms on his legs and clasped his hands together while Dr. Jones went for a cup of coffee.
Dr. Jones returned, sat his coffee down, and pulled a wooden chair from the table.
“Your wife appears to have suffered severe acute ovarian pain. It’s the type of pain that comes on quickly and usually lasts a short time.” He lifted the coffee cup then blew lightly over the top to cool the coffee. “With the cancer spreading what could be happening is the tumor is starting to bear down on tissue around it, the reason for the bleeding. We’re going to take x-rays,” he said sitting the cup back down and stirring his coffee with the small tan stirrer he stuck inside. “Or her pain could be the results of her radiation treatments. Neuropathic pain it’s called. The pain is often sharp, a shooting type of pain which she’s described.”
Charles nodded. “So she’s out of pain now?”
“For the moment she’s free of pain. That was our focus. I’ve prescribed Oxycodone. I’m going to prescribe an antidepressant for her also.” Dr. Jones paused then said, “Mr. Washington, the other reason I wanted to speak to you alone is that I’m concerned with your wife’s mental state.”
Charles tightened his mouth.
Dr. Jones sipped from his cup then said, “The reason I’m saying this is, I’ve been made aware of her prognosis by Dr. Maim. Even so, she needs to stay positive. Has your wife given up? She’s quoted passages from the bible several times and was rather joyous with her excerpt,” he said.
Charles cupped his hands to his face. That’s why she wanted to speak to Dr. Maim alone. She inquired about how much time she has left.
Charles said, “She has giving up, Dr. Jones. She’s okay with what she thinks is certain, her dying. She’s already refused the additional treatments Dr. Maim recommended she have.”
Charles not holding back anymore wailed into his hands. His body jerked with sorrow at the thought he was going to lose his wife. He wiped at his eyes and stood sliding his hands into his pants pocket. He strolled over near the coffee table and stopped with his back to Dr. Jones.
“I’ve got to find a way to get her to believe that she’s wrong, convince her that this next round of radiation is what she needs to get better, Doc.”
“I understand. You’re going up against a tough wall, but I have to ask you, do you think your wife is suicidal? We can have her monitored.”
Charles shook his head no, and then turned with a pinch of a smile. “I don’t think she’s going to let go until her last wish is fulfilled.”
“Her last wish and what might that be if you don’t mind me asking?” Dr. Jones, curious, took another sip of coffee.
“She wants to meet Angela Bassett. Can you believe that? Instead of focusing on getting better she tells me and her best friend to promise we’ll find a way for her to meet Mrs. Bassett. She’s even mumbled the name a couple times just going about the house, Angela Bassett, Angela Bassett. Then she’d turn and smile at me.” Charles moved his head from side to side becoming a little tickled again.
“Mrs. Bassett, yes...the actress,” Dr. Jones uttered then grinned, too. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d thought she was Angela Bassett. The resemblance is undeniable.” He too shook his head. “Well, if it doesn’t happen for her, you can always give her a mirror and have her speak into it.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Charles said with a couple of nods, his low spirit uplifting a bit.
“Well, I have other patients that I need to see. If you have any questions, give me a call or have me paged.”
Dr. Jones rose from the seat and headed toward the door leaving his half cup of coffee on the table.
***
A couple hours later Charles was given permission to see his wife.
Vivian about to stand with him stayed seated after Charles turned to her.
“I know you’re concerned Vivian, but if you don’t mind I like to see her first,” he said.
“Sure Charles.”
&
nbsp; Even though Jennifer’s pain had subsided her energy level was very low. She lay as if she was already lifeless. The bible she had requested was lying upon her chest. She was facing the door and smiled when she saw Charles enter the room.
“There...you are,” she said. “Praise the Lord...He sent my husband to...see me.”
Though he was informed that Jennifer was in a biblical mindset, Charles was a little taken back to see the bible atop her chest.
“Hey, sweetie,” he said and leaned over and kissed Jennifer softly on the forehead. “When did you start reading books?”
Jennifer beamed. “Oh, this is not an...ordinary book. This is an order...of preparation. It’s just...it’s just a shame the time I chose to acquaint myself...with it. Charles...did you know in the beginning...that God took earth and divided...it in half. One half He called...Heaven and the other...Earth.”
“No, I didn’t know that.”
Charles pulled the chair next to the bed closer and sat in it looking at his wife.
“Did you know I thought...the bible was a great big book, but it’s a...book of many books? It all starts with...the book of Genesis, then Exodus, well...that’s if you’re reading in the Old...Testament.” She smiled again and said, “I decided to bypass all...the other books and go straight to Revelation...because that’s where I am headed...to the end.”
Charles gave her a minuscule smile and nod while her feeling of rapture continued.
“I’ve got a whole lot...of repenting to do before I get...out of here.”
Again Charles smiled and nodded at her. He was actually at a loss for words, taking in to consideration neither of them went to church or ever talked about the Lord. He also knew there was no weapon he could form against what she was saying.
Jennifer said, “He said...blessed is he that read...and they that hear the words...of this prophecy...and keep those things which...are written therein: for the time is at hand...I’m a witness to that,” she added happily, and nodding then she coughed. Her eyes grew a little at the leakage below that escaped when she coughed.
“Baby, are you okay, how do you feel?”
“I’m fine...but, I think when we leave here...our next stop should be a Wal-Mart for...some Depends,” and she sort of giggled.
It took Charles a moment to understand and he nodded okay.
Jennifer coughed again and Charles rose and went to the other side of the bed for her glass of water and Kleenex.
“Baby, Vivian and Toni are here,” he said positioning the glass for her to sip some water, which she did very little of. He went and sat the glass back down and then headed toward the door. He waved down the hall for Vivian and Toni to come.
“Baby, I’m so glad...Vi opened her heart to Toni...again,” Jennifer said.
Vivian and Toni entered the room.
“You must love this place,” Vivian said walking over to her bed. “We’re going to see if we can have one of these rooms turned into a Timeshare for you.”
“Hey you two,” Jennifer said to them.
Vivian’s cell phone rang and she reached into her purse for it. She saw the call was from her assistant and pushed the talk button then looked back at her friend. “Hey Patricia, what’s going on?”
“Ms. Fowler, that’s exactly why I called you. Are you okay? Everyone is asking about you. How are you doing?”
“I’m fine and I’m sorry Patricia for not calling.” Vivian put a finger up to Jennifer to excuse herself then turned and strolled toward the door and out of it. “I know I should have reached out to you again by now. You must feel like I just dumped my salon on you, please forgive me.”
“It’s no problem. I understand you are going through something. I’m, as well as a few others are concerned because no one has seen you in months, but there are signs that you’ve been here,” Patricia said and masking that she felt her boss was trying to avoid anyone seeing her pregnant.
“Patricia I’m going to be candid with you. I am pregnant and due sometime in April. And I have visited the salon. Can I count on you to keep things moving?”
“Without a doubt, whatever you need me to do.”
Patricia was happy that her boss had a situation. It was her dream to run her own beauty shop. Her boss had given her the opportunity to be in total charge and she loved it.
“Ms. Fowler I saw the note that you intended to have security monitors installed. You want me to take care of that for you. I can set the appointment.”
Vivian exchanged a smile with a nurse walking pass her. Her smile lingered as she was truly grateful for Patricia.
“Please,” she answered and then said, “Let me know what day you schedule it.”
“I will Ms. Fowler, no problem at all. I don’t have any kids to go home to and my man knows my work comes first. Whatever you need me to do Ms. Fowler, I’m here.”
“Patricia I sincerely thank you and especially for keeping my business between you and me. I’ll let the other stylist know I’m a new mom some time after the baby is born.”
“Ms. Fowler my word is bond. You’re my boss but I consider you a friend, too. I will not share what you tell me with anyone.”
“Thanks Patricia, but I have to go.”
Patricia sitting in her booth chair grinned. “Okay. Oh, Ms. Fowler, I almost forgot to mention the other reason I called. One of the sinks is clogged.”
“Go ahead and call a plumber. Let me know what the cost to unclog it is before it’s done.”
“Alright, you have a great rest of the day, Ms. Fowler,” Patricia said and ended the call.
Vivian reentered the room to a sleeping Jennifer.
***
“He’s going to come after me I know it. He’s going to get me!” Tracie said in a panic. She walked her living room floor afraid that Vernon would come back to her house and possibly harm her for going to the police.
“Fran please…please don’t leave,” she implored her sister and then stood in the middle of the living room and wept.
“No, don’t you leave until he’s caught!” she said ignoring Tracie crying. “I’m not afraid of him. He’s not going to keep me confined to my home. I have to work.”
Fran needed to get back to work. She was on her lunch break and had detoured from on her way to make a deposit at her bank to Tracie’s apartment after a frantic call from her. Though Fran didn’t want to show it, she was somewhat alarmed that Vernon had escaped from lockup. Mad, she went over to the front window and looked out. She was in full view if Vernon was watching from somewhere. She wanted him to know she was on the lookout for him and planned to call the police if she spotted him.
“Just do what the police said and keep a look out for him Tracie,” Fran said turning from the window, still angry about getting called into her sister’s mess. “If he tries to contact you let the police know so that they can track the call. That man is dangerous and no telling what he’ll do if he gets in here.”
Fran looked back out the window and became curious about a dark-colored car sitting in front of her building she didn’t recall seeing when she first looked out the window.
Tracie said, “That’s why I’ll feel better if you stayed here with us.”
Fran quickly turned from the window. “Look, you need to get it together, Tracie! You have a child in there,” she said pointing to Cassidy’s closed bedroom door. Cassidy was inside watching television and playing with her dolls. “You’re going to be fine. There is an unmarked police car sitting out front. They are here for your protection. The police,” and before she could finish her sentence Tracie’s home phone rang startling Tracie. She walked over to the end table scared to answer it.
“It’s the police Fran,” she said looking at the caller I.D., and picked up.
“Hello.”
“Is this Tracie Allen?” an officer asked.
“Yes.”
“This is Sergeant Gilbert Wiener calling from the 3rd precinct. I want to bring to your attention about an unmarked police vehic
le that, if not already there, will be stationed in front of your home. If Vernon Fowler tries to contact you, call us immediately.”
“Okay,” Tracie said then heard a dial tone. “The police said they’ll be sitting in front of the house and if Vernon calls to call them.”
“Good. I don’t think he’s stupid enough to come here if the police are looking for him. He’s a fool, but I don’t think a damn fool. Just keep a look out and if something doesn’t seem or appear right, call the police. I need to get back to work. I’m already late returning from lunch.”
Tracie nodded, and then opened the door for her sister quickly locking the door behind her.
***
It was a little after 2 p.m. when Vivian and Toni arrived back at her house. They spoke briefly about Jennifer and how strong she was dealing with her situation. Vivian went to relax on the sofa while Toni headed for the kitchen to make them a sandwich.
Vivian clicked on the television glad that Toni was there, but wanted to clear something up that was bothering her with him. His steady referring to her as baby was becoming uncomfortable; they were not a couple again. It was too soon. There was still a hurdle between them she had to get over.
“Toni,” Vivian softly called out and at the same time the doorbell rang.
“Would you like me to get that for you?” Toni said and looking out at her from the kitchen.
Vivian nodded, yes.
Toni looked through the peek-hole and then opened the door. His eyes narrowed at a medium brown skin colored man, with a thick, sprouting moustache in desperate need of a shave. The bulky fur hood on the black down coat he was wearing was absurdly too big for his head.
“Look, I didn’t come here to cause any trouble,” Vernon stated pushing the hood back some to expose his face.
“Who is it Toni?” Vivian asked, and she moved her head to get a glimpse of who was at her door.
“I’m not sure,” Toni answered over his shoulder and keeping an eye on the man. “If I’m not mistaken your brother.”
Trickery & Envy Page 23